After around 14 yrs. of not riding trails, went out and rode some the other day-on my "96(not 98 like my avatar says) GT Timberline with a Manitou Axel Comp fork, 3x8 drivetrain, and a few other upgrades. I used to ride a lot and didn't consider the bike a hindrance (tho it is heavy for a bike these days). I'm sure my skills and level of risk acceptance at 68 is less than when I trail rode mostly. But wow!, some of the jumps, drops, technical sections that I encountered were impressive. I didn't see anyone riding them the day I was out there, but don't think they'd have built them if they couldn't ride them. Not sure I'd attempt them, even with a dbl-squishy modern mtb. Gonna have to venture back to (hopefully) watch them being ridden, sure I'd be impressed. Don't think I did too badly for my age and "outdated" bike-still like that bike--got lots of use on some challenging trails when that was all I rode. Sorry, no smart phone, so can't post pics of what I saw.

You would be surprised what a top of the line FS MTB will do for your ability to ride seemingly impossible stuff. I sometimes wonder if it’s really any better or anymore thrilling or if the technical advances just mean we have to chase increasingly more extreme terrain for our thrills...

I went from a 2007 full suspension bike to a 2018 bike with 160mm fork and 150mm rear suspension. Old bike was a 26er, new bike 27.5plus.
Modern geometry, wide bars and effective suspension make a huge difference on technical terrain. At 65, I won't be doing any double jumps or chasing any young aggressive riders but I feel the new bike is safer and has allowed me to enjoy challenges I wouldn't have tried on the old one. Plus, it's a blast!

Bike quality and usability had grown by leeps and bounds, better suspension tires gears just better but the number of guys in the woods seems down from bavk in the day im 53 can still hang and crush many dudes on my 2008 HT Gary fisher but fewer fellas actually ride no cardio but bike arse bikes

I can out-climb some of the younger guys, too, but I don't want to jump off big trail features or take crazy chances.

Agreed 100%.

The rare 9 speed 26 incher hard tail near water


The mt goat in rare sighting Full 9 speeds and 26 inch wheels No rear suspension Crazy rare to see innthe wild 😜

People go fast on hardtails. I still see them sometimes.

Sometimes I go pretty fast on this with drop bars and no suspension.


008 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

I usually go faster when I'm on this one with 130mm travel in front and 120mm in back.


0305a by Benny Watson, on Flickr

Love the Niner Benny. There are some drop bar gravel/trail riders I see around here on fire roads and some of the milder trails. They all seem to be young and/or super fit.
I have a loop I do from home which has a lot of climbing and some dirt sections with sand and loose rocks. I've been doing it on my Gunnar which has similar geometry to a cross bike. A gravel bike would be great for that.

Had many a wreck on my Gary Fisher Aquila with no suspension. Then got a Rock Shox put on and I was rocking in a few years I upgraded everything the whole drivetrain etc etc the only thing original was the frame. Now this was 1996. Anyways great times and a lot of blood left on the trail.

I love riding dirt roads on my gravel bike, not so much on the drop bar MTB pictured above. Those 3" wide tires are great on the trails, but a pain on smooth hardpack.

Remember when John Tomac and Jackie Phelan rode drop bar mountain bikes to championships?

how do you do

I ride single track at age 70, but do not do what the kids (30 yr olds) do. No features or jumps for me - recovery from a serious crash would take too long. I upgraded from an old KHS 500 with 26 in wheels to a Scott 940 full suspension with 29 inch. The bike is fast and I can keep up with many of the kids on flow type trails. I am wondering if my reaction time will eventually keep me from riding the way i am now. Meanwhile i will keep having fun. I went to Mulberry Gap (Elijay) mountain bike campground last December to ride the north GA mountain trails. I was slow but had fun!!!

I find even the blue trails about all a 20 year old Cracknfail is capable of..

My club (Tallahassee Mountain Bike Assoc) had about 30 riders at Munson Hills single track course (located off the St. Marks Trail) yesterday. It is not a technical ride, and I managed to run about mid-pack. The group had mostly intermediate riders with some beginners at the tail end. I cannot keep up on the technical trails though, and do not climb so well. We do have hills in Tally.

I doubt at 68, anyone would want a broken collar bone or worse, a complex shoulder surgery